The Best Commercial Espresso Machine

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Last Updated: August 2017

As the owner of a coffee shop, restaurant, or donut shop, your reputation depends on your ability to offer your customers a delicious cup of espresso. As such, you’ll find that the best commercial espresso machine for your business will be much different than the one you choose for home use. Here are some things you should know about top-rated commercial espresso machines that can guide you in your decision.

Table of contents

Type of Business

The best commercial espresso machine for a coffee shop will be much different than one used in a restaurant, donut shop, or café. The reason is primarily due to volume. A donut shop may only serve between 20 and 50 espresso drinks per day, while a coffee shop could serve as many as 500.

The type of business you operate will also affect your hourly capacity. For example, you may serve between 50 and 100 cups per hour in a coffee shop, but will likely serve far fewer than that in a restaurant or donut shop. Since your volume is likely to peak throughout the day, you’ll need a machine that is suitable for your busiest periods.

Super Automatic Espresso Machines

A super automatic espresso machine is one that will do at least part of the work for you. These top-rated commercial espresso machines are broken down into two different categories:

One-step, which only requires you to push a button before making the entire drink

Two-step, which makes the espresso shot only. Your staff will then have to steam the milk by using a steam wand

One Step vs. Two Step

Which one is best for your business? A one-step model might be best if you regularly produce high volumes of espresso drinks, as this type of machine will save you a great deal of time. You could also benefit if there are untrained baristas on staff, as less skill is required to operate a one-step machine.

A two-step model could be a better choice if you have trained baristas on staff. Having your baristas create espresso drinks by hand tends to provide customers with a better overall experience. It is recommended in donut shops or restaurants that do not necessarily experience high volume.

Brew Groups

Commercial espresso machines also come with between one and four brew groups. A brew group is an assembly that circulates water over top of the grinds to create brewed beverages. The number of brew groups you require will also vary based upon your volume. One brew group will normally be sufficient for a restaurant or donut shop, but you could need three or four brew groups in a very busy coffee shop.

Our Recommendations

Based upon the best commercial espresso machine reviews, here are a few models we recommend:

Nuova Simonelli Appia

This machine contains an ergonomic design that makes brewing espresso very easy. This ergonomic design coupled with the automatic dosing functions more than compensate for the fact that this is a one-group machine. It is therefore suitable for businesses that serve fewer than 50 espresso beverages per day. Some useful features include:

Raised group heads, making it easy to fill larger cups

Smart wand that froths and steams milk at the touch of a button and automatically turns off when the right temperature is reached

La Marzocco GS/3

This machine would be ideal for donut shops or restaurants that serve around 50 beverages per day. This is a two-step machine that requires minimal skill in order to produce great tasting drinks. A few features include:

Double boilers, which allow you to steam and brew at the same time

Adjustable steam wand that makes steaming and frothing more comfortable

Hot water spout, providing hot water on demand for tea, cocoa, or other hot beverages

Cup warmer

Glass window with water level indicator, which allows you to see at a glance how much water is in the machine

La Marzocco GB/5

The La Marzocco GB/5 is ideal for high volume settings, being capable of producing between 300 and 500 espresso beverages per day. This two-group machine is plumbed into your water line, eliminating the need to constantly refill. You will also enjoy:

Dual steam wands, both of which are also ideal for producing latte

Pre-heating system that warms water before entering the boiler, thereby decreasing brewing time

Double boiler that is capable of extracting espresso and steaming milk at the same time

Choosing the best commercial espresso grinder can be difficult, as quality machines are somewhat pricey. As such, we recommend you not only consider the factors listed here, but that you also look at commercial super automatic espresso machine reviews to ensure you are buying the best quality machine for your needs and budget.